Iran railway bridge attacked by US and Israel, resulting in 2 deaths; Ahvaz hit by airstrikes again, Middle East energy corridor alert escalates

⑴ An official from Isfahan Province, Iran, stated on Tuesday that the Yahyaabad railway bridge in the city of Kashan was attacked by the United States and Israel, resulting in 2 deaths and 3 injuries. That same afternoon, parts of Ahvaz City in Khuzestan Province also came under airstrike, with targets located in the Zeitoun area and along the national highway. ⑵ From a trading psychology perspective, the attack on the railway bridge directly threatens Iran’s inland logistics nodes, while Khuzestan Province, where Ahvaz City is located, is Iran’s main energy-producing region, and airstrikes in this area further amplify the potential risk of interruption to crude oil and natural gas transportation. ⑶ The market had previously priced in the risk of a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, but the spread of attacks to Iran’s deeper infrastructure means the scope of geopolitical conflict is expanding. Any trade flows relying on Middle Eastern energy exports may face longer detour times and higher insurance premiums.